Balanced lifting device



June 17, 1941. c. EfMOORE BALANCED LIFTING DEVICE Fil ed Dec. 24, 1940 INVENTOR Carl E/MGO/e AL?? WW Patented June 17, 1941 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

, I 2,246,142 Y I BALANCED LIFTING DEVICE Carl E. Moore, eat; Ind. Application December 24, 1940, Serial No. 371,547 4 Claims. (01. 294-67) This invention relates to a lifting device, and, in particular, to a device for lifting long heavy objects, such as mill rolls, which can conveniently be seized for removal only at one end.

Various types of lifting devices have been proposed heretofore for unbalanced loads, such as a mill roll engaged at one end only. Some of these, furthermore, have been provided with an adjustable counterpoise to insure the correct balancing of loads of different weights, It is an object of my invention, therefore, to improve generally upon lifting devices of this type and to provide a simple sturdy device which can be constructed at relatively low cost and yet serve its purpose effectively.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a lifting device comprising a rectangular frame, having an arm projecting from one end adapted to engage the roll or other object to be lifted. The frame provides guideways along which a traveling counterpoise is movable. I provide means, preferably motor-driven, for adjusting the counterpoise along the ways to obtain proper counter-balancing for loads of Various weights.

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following complete description and explanation of the preferred embodiment, which refer to the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiment. In the drawing,

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the lifting device for my invention engaging a mill roll adapted to be lifted thereby;

Figure 2 is a side elevation; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along the plane of line III--III of Figure 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the lifting device of my invention indicated generally at IU comprises a substantially rectangular frame or beam II, which may conveniently be a onepiec casting, or may be fabricated from separate casting or wrought metal members. In any event, the frame comprises substantially horizontal members I2 and I3 and vertical posts I4 and I5 therebetween. The horizontal members I2 and I3 serve as guides for a traveling counterpoise I6.

The counterpoise I6 comprises a massive block of metal having rollers I1 journaled therein on shafts I8. As shown in the drawing, the rollers engage the inner faces of the horizontal members or guide-ways of the frame II. Angle brackets I9 welded to the top and bottom of the counterpoise I6 on opposite sides of the guide- A bore 20 extends through ways, prevent lateral displacement of the counterpoise from the frame. r

V the counterpoise I6 and the nuts 2I and 22 are seated in opposite ends thereof. Th nuts are flanged so that they can exert pressure on the counterpoise in opposite directions respectively. Ascrew shaft 23 is journaled in bearings 24 in the vertical posts I4 and I5 and is threaded through the nuts 2I and 22. Thrust collars25, secured to the shaft 23, engage the outer faces of the posts I4 and I5.

An arm or extension 26 extends laterally from the frame II and is provided with article engag-- ing means adjacent to the end thereof. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this means comprises a socket 21 adapted to receive the end of a mill roll such as that shown at 28. Any other type of article-engaging means may, of course, be substituted for the socket 21.

A gear motor 29 is connected to the screw shaft 23 through a coupling 30. The motor unit of the gear motor 29 is preferably reversible and may be controlled manually by suitable equipment (not shown) to operate the screw shaft 23 in either direction. It will be apparent that rotation of the screw shaft 23 in one direction or the other causes one of the nuts 2|, 22 to exert a force on the counterpoise I6, tending to move it along the ways I2, I3. The collars 25 furnish the reacting thrust necessary to move the counterpoise.

A web 3I extending upwardly from the top horizontal member I2 of the frame I I is provided with an eye 32 adapted to receive a lifting means such as a crane hook 33.

It will be apparent that in use, the lifting device of my invention is brought up to the roll 28 endwise so that the socket 21 receives the end of th roll. During this manipulation, the counterpoise I6 is shifted to its extreme left end position as viewed in Figure 2, whereby the entire device I I1 is substantially balanced when supported on the hook 33. When all is in readiness for the roll 28 to be lifted, the counterpoise I6 is shifted to the right and the crane from which the hook 33 is suspended is taken up.

As the roll is lifted, the counterpoise I6 may be adjusted one way or the other to obtain accurate balancing of the lifting device as a Whole with the roll attached. When the roll is deposited at the desired point, the counterpoise I6 is restored to its normal position substantially centralized with the center line of the eye 32.

It will be apparent that the invention is characterized by numerous advantages. In the first place, the construction is simple yet sturdy, so that the device can be designed for lifting heavy loads without running the cost thereof up to excessive amounts. The control of the counterpoise is readily effected by a gear motor of small capacity because of the rollers 18 which constitute an antifriction bearing between the counterpoise and its guides. Since the counterpoise moves longitudinally of the lifting device as a Whole, the moment exerted thereby is directly proportional to the distance of the counterpoise from the line of support, in other words, a 1" shift of the counterpoise along its ways effects the same change in tilting moment regardless of the position of the counterpoise. In lifting devices using pivoted counterweights, the change in tilting moment effected by a predetermined angular movement of the counterweights depends on the initial position thereof.

Although I have illustrated and described but a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that changes in the construction and arrangement illustrated may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of. the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for lifting a long heavy object by one end comprising a generally rectangular frame providing spaced, horizontal Ways, an arm extending from one end of said frame having means adapted to detachably engage said object, a counterpoise adapted to travel on said ways, a motor mounted on saidarm and means driven by said motor for actuating said counterpoise along said ways.

2. A lifting device comprising a generally rectangular frame providing spaced, horizontal Ways, and spaced, vertical posts, an arm extending from one end of the frame adapted to engage an object to be lifted, a counterpoise movable along said ways, and a screw shaft journaled in said posts for moving the counterpoise.

3. A lifting device comprising a generally rectangular frame providing spaced, horizontal ways, and spaced, vertical posts, an arm extending from one end of the frame adapted to engage an object to be lifted, a counterpoise movable along said ways, a screw shaft journaled in said posts for moving the counterpoise, and a motor mounted on said arm connected to said shaft.

4. A lifting device comprising a generally rectangular frame -providing spaced, horizontal Ways; and spaced, vertical posts, an arm extending from one end of the frame adapted to engage an object to be lifted, a counterpoise movable along said ways, a screw shaft J'ournaled in said posts for moving the counterpoise, and nuts adapted to exert forces on said counterpoise in opposite directions, said shaft being threaded through said nuts.

CARLVE. MOORE. 

